Stopper-puller.



rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD M. \VILOOX, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO WILLIAMA. SPENCER AND IOWA L. MINFORD, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

STOPPER-PULLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 713,930, datedNovember 18, 1902.

Application filed September 4, 1902. Serial No. 122,102. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. WILCOX, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin g at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State ofNebraska, have invented certain new and usef 111 Improvements inStopper-Pullers,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved stopper-puller designed in thenature of an at- [O tachment for ordinary types of stoppers or corks andcomprising simple and practical means whereby a stopper may be extractedor drawn from a bottle or jar without the aid of a corkscrew orequivalent device and without injury to the stopper.

The invention relates more particularly to the common cork type ofstopper which is universally used as a closure or stopper for all kindsof bottles and jars and the extraction or drawing of which from the neckof the vessel usually requires the aid of a corkscrew or equivalentinstrument which passes into or against the body of the cork andfrequently either destroys or so injures the same as to render it unfitfor further use. It is with a view of preserving a cork or equivalentstopper for indefinite use, while at the same time providing simple andeffective means whereby it may be evenly drawn or extracted by theemployment of any pointed instrument or device which may beavailablesuch, for instance, as a nail, fork, or equivalent pointeddevice--that the present invention is designed.

By reason of equipping the cork with its own puller or pullingattachment the necessity of providing an extra cork for sealing thebottle or jar after the original cork has been extracted is obviated,and the present invention further contemplates a novel construction andarrangement of parts wherein an extended bearing is provided for thepulling strand or element at the bottom of the cork and the separatemembers of the puller 4 5 attachment are so related as to positivelyprevent tearing or other injury to the cork, be sides providing formaintaining the separate elements of the attachment permanently inoperative relation.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readilyappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts which will be hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, andclaimed.

The essential feature of the invention involved in the novel meansprovided to secure an extended bearing for the pullingstrand at thebottom of the cork is susceptible to some structural change withoutaffecting the invention; but the preferred construction of the device isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspectiveview of a common cork fitted with a puller attachment, such ascontemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the cork with its puller attachment. Fig. 3 is a similar View onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detailiu perspective of thestaple-bearing element constituting the washer member of the attachmentand having a fastening engagement with the bottom of the stopper-body orcork.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

In carryingout the invention it is of course understood that the samemay be applied to any stopper of the common cork or compressible type;but inasmuch as the invention possesses special utility as an attachmentfor a common cork the same is shown in the drawin gs as applied thereto.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates thestopper body, through which is strung a pulling member 2. This pullingmember may consist of a strand of any suitable material adapted for thepurpose, but preferably is formed of a single length of wire extendinglongitudinally throughout the extent of the stopper-body and looped atboth ends to provide, respectively, an open pull-loop 3 at the top ofthe stopper-body and the inner engaging loop 4, extending about thebottom of the stopperbody in the manner to be presently explained.

The open pull-loop 8 of the pulling member or strand 2 is practicallyflush with the top of the stopper-body, but is exposed sufficiently atsuch point -to permit of the insertion thereunder of a pointedinstrumentsuch as a nail, fork, or like article-whenit is desired toexert a lifting or drawing pressure upon the stopper-body or cork forthe extraction thereof.

In the preferable form of the invention shown in the drawings the sideportions 5 of the pulling strand or member 2 pass through separateportions of the body of the stopper or cork and maintain a spacedrelation, whereby the pulling strain on the stopper or cork body isevenly distributed, and also in the form of the invention shown the saidside portions of the pulling strand or member are downwardly divergentto provide a well-defined spread for the engaging loop 4, which extendsabout the bottom portion of the stopper-body. In this connection it willbe observed that the said engaging loop is of a greater relative widththan the upper pullloop 3, and hence extends across the major portion ofthe bottom of the stopper-body.

The terminals of the strand 2, constituting the pulling member, may besecured together in any suitable manner; but a simple expedient consistsin fastening the said terminals together by twisting, as indicated at 6,preferably at the bottom of the cork-body and beneath the bearingelement 7, with which cooperates the bottom engaging loop 4. Inreferring further to the pulling strand or member 2 it should be notedthat the said strand or member may be inserted through the compressiblestopper or cork body 1 in the form of a staple and the ends twistedtogether, as at 6, providing a simple manner of applying the pullingstrand or member to the stopper; but however the strand is applied it isto be understood that the same is placed in the stopper before thelatter is compressed in the neck of the vessel. Hence the compression ofthe stopper or cork body in the neck of the vessel forces the body ofthe material about the pulling-strand and positively obviates leakage.

The bearing element 7, about which the bottom engaging loop 4 extends,is preferably of a staple form, with the prongs thereof embedded in thebody of the stopper and held so embedded by the engagement of theengaging loop 4 therewith. In its preferableconstruction the saidstaple-bearing element consists of an elongated sheet-metal bar 8,provided at the opposite extremities thereof With the pointedholding-prongs 8, bent from the same side of the bar and adapted to beforced into the bottom portion of the stopper-body. Also a feature ofthe pronged bar 8, which performs a useful function, resides inproviding this bar with a longitudinal channel 9, which may be formed bymaking the bar of the concavo-convex shape; but irrespecthe bottom ofthe stopper-body, and the engaging loop 4 passes longitudinally oversaid bar and around the corners 10 thereof, so as to also lie againstthe outer sides of the holding-prongs 8. v The said engaging loop thusserves to securely hold the bearing element in fastened engagement withthe stopper-body, and, besides, the said bearing element provides abroad and extended bearing for the engaging loop in order to betterdistribute the pulling strain upon the stopper-body and also preventingany injury whatever to the stopper or cork body from continued usethereof.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described puller attachment will bereadily apparent without further description, and it will also beunderstood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stopper-puller, the combination with the stopper-body, of apronged bearing element engaged with the bottom of the body, and apulling-strand passed through the body and provided at the top with anexposed pullloop and at the bottom with an engaging loop extending aboutthe pronged portions of the bearing element.

2. In a stopper-puller,the combination with the stopper-body, of apronged bearing element engaged with the bottom of said body, and apulling-strand passed through the body and provided at the top with anexposed pullloop and at the bottom with an engaging loop arrangedlongitudinally about the outer side of the bearing element and alsoextending around the pronged portions thereof.

3. In a stopper-puller,the combination with the stopper-body, of abearing element having terminal prongs engaged in the bottom portion ofthe stopper-body, and a looped pulling-strand extending through thestopperbody and provided at the top with an exposed pull-loop and at thebottom with a widened engaging loop passed longitudinally over thebearing element and extending around the corners thereof alongside ofthe prongs.

4. In a stopper-puller,the combination with the stopper-body, of astaple-bearing element consisting of a longitudinally channeled sheetmetal bar having terminal holding- IIO prongs bent from the same sidethereof and I In testimony whereof I affix my signature engaged in thebottom of the stopper-body, in presence of two witnesses. and a loopedpulling-strand passed through the stopper-body and provided at the topwith EDWARD M. WILCOX. 5 an exposed pull-100p and at the bottom With awidened engaging 100p arranged longitudi- Witnesses:

nztlly over the bar and. extending about the WV. B. TAYLOR,

corners and alongside of the prongs. S. A. BROADWELL.

